HR 780119th CongressIn Committee

Alexandra’s Law Act of 2025

Introduced: Jan 28, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Alexandra’s Law Act of 2025 would add a new advisory requirement to federal drug prosecutions involving fentanyl or its analogs where a death has occurred. Specifically, when a defendant is convicted or pleads guilty/not guilty to offenses under the Controlled Substances Act that involve N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide (a fentanyl chemical name) or its analogs exchanged for something of value and death occurred, the court must give the defendant a specific advisory statement about the dangers of illicit drugs and fentanyl, and about potential homicide charges under federal law if the substance provided contained fentanyl and caused death. The advisory also notes that knowledge or awareness of fentanyl presence can be a factor for the judge or jury when determining guilt or sentencing. The bill also creates evidentiary rules to support that knowledge, allowing prior related convictions or pleas to be used as evidence that the defendant knew the substance contained fentanyl, and it provides for cross-admissibility of sworn statements between state and federal courts that are substantially similar to the advisory. There is an exception for prosecutions of individuals who were minors at the time of the offense. The act is named the Alexandra's Law Act of 2025 and was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representatives Issa, Kiley, and Obernolte.

Key Points

1Advisory requirement: In certain federal drug cases involving fentanyl-type substances with a death, the court must provide an advisory statement warning about the dangers of illicit drugs, the lethal risk of fentanyl, and possible charges under federal homicide statutes if death occurred and fentanyl was involved.
2Content of the advisory: The statement explicitly alerts defendants that selling or administering drugs without lawful authorization can lead to death, and if the substance contained fentanyl the defendant may face charges under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 or 1112; the conviction can be weighed by the judge/jury to assess whether the defendant knew or should have known the substance contained fentanyl.
3Knowledge as evidence: The bill allows prior related convictions or pleas to be used as evidence that the defendant knew the substance contained fentanyl or an analogue, in prosecutions under the relevant federal homicide statutes.
4Cross-jurisdictional admissibility: Any sworn statement used in state court that is substantially similar to the advisory statement may be admissible in federal court, and vice versa, facilitating cross‑court use of such statements.
5Minor exception: The accompanying provisions do not apply to prosecutions of individuals who were minors at the time the offense was committed.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group: Defendants convicted of or pleading to federal offenses under the Controlled Substances Act involving fentanyl or its analogs where death occurred; they would receive the advisory and may face enhanced considerations of knowledge about fentanyl.Secondary affected group: Federal and state prosecutors, federal courts, and defense counsel who handle drug-related homicide cases; the bill changes advisory requirements and evidentiary standards, potentially affecting trial strategy and sentencing considerations.Additional impacts: Cross-jurisdictional admissibility of sworn statements could affect how evidence is gathered and used across state and federal cases; the minor-exemption may limit applicability in cases involving defendants who were minors at the time of the offense; overall, the measure signals a policy emphasis on fentanyl awareness and its role in homicide prosecutions.

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